medicine (n.)

c. 1200, "medical treatment, cure, healing," also (early 14c.) "substance used in treatment of a disease, medicinal potion or plaster," also used figuratively of spiritual remedies, from Old French medecine (Modern French médicine) "medicine, art of healing, cure, treatment, potion" and directly from Latin medicina "the healing art, medicine; a remedy," also used figuratively.

This is perhaps originally ars medicina "the medical art," from fem. of medicinus (adj.) "of a doctor," from medicus "a physician" (from PIE root *med- "take appropriate measures"); though OED says evidence for this path is wanting and suggests derivation directly from medicus. The sense of "practice, theory, or study of curing, alleviating, or preventing disease in humans" is from mid-14c.

The figurative phrase take (one's) medicine "submit to something disagreeable" is recorded by 1865; that of dose of (one's) own medicine is by 1894. Medicine show "traveling show meant to attract a crowd so patent medicine can be sold to them" is American English, 1938. Medicine ball "stuffed leather ball used for exercise" is from 1889.


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Definitions of medicine from WordNet
medicine (n.)
the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques;
Synonyms: medical specialty
medicine (n.)
Synonyms: medication / medicament / medicinal drug
medicine (n.)
he studied medicine at Harvard
Synonyms: practice of medicine
medicine (n.)
punishment for one's actions;
take your medicine
Synonyms: music
medicine (v.)
treat medicinally, treat with medicine;
Synonyms: medicate